Kentucky · Rock climbing · Beattyville

The Shipyard

12-route climbing area in Kentucky with sport and trad options.

12 routes
5.8 – 5.13b
Sport · Trad

Is Shipyard, The open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Daniel Boone National Forest. It doesn't name Shipyard, The, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit The Shipyard

Best months: August–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

  1. Jan

    42° / 24°

    13 wet

  2. Feb

    47° / 27°

    13 wet

  3. Mar

    57° / 34°

    15 wet

  4. Apr

    68° / 44°

    15 wet

  5. May

    75° / 53°

    15 wet

  6. Jun

    82° / 61°

    14 wet

  7. Jul

    84° / 65°

    14 wet

  8. Aug

    84° / 64°

    12 wet

  9. Sep

    79° / 57°

    10 wet

  10. Oct

    69° / 44°

    12 wet

  11. Nov

    57° / 35°

    12 wet

  12. Dec

    46° / 28°

    13 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Beattyville 4n, KY, 0.8 mi away at 1,080 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

The Shipyard is a climbing area in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest, within the Cumberland Ranger District and the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve. The preserve is managed by a non-governmental organization. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to climb. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 75°F and September highs around 79°F, with September seeing the fewest wet days of the year. Other climbing areas sit right next door. The Getaway is about 0.1 mile away, and Throwback Crag and Velo Crag are each about 0.2 mile off. For a change from rock, the Sheltowee Trace high water route lies about 2.2 miles away.

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The PlaygroundPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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The Bear's DenPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński (user:Jarekt), CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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